AND I SAW THERE
THE TOWERING IMAGE OF A KNEELING APE,
FIXED TO THE EARTH BY ITS KNEES.
ITS HAIRY PAWS RESTED BACKSIDE-DOWN, PLACED UPON EITHER KNEE.
APPROACHING THESE FOUNDATIONS, I SHOOK WITH FEAR
BUT WAS UNABLE TO SWAY MYSELF FROM ITS LURE.
FROM ITS MOUTH CAME LIES AND ACCUSATIONS. BLASPHEMIES AND VILE CURSES…
WHEN I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE POSSESSOR OF THIS IMAGE,
ITS RIGHT PAW DID OPEN UP AND HE SPOKE AGAIN,
“ALE, IN YOUR RIGHT HAND IS A HOOK. YOU ARE BOUND TO THIS DUTY.”
AND SURELY, THERE WAS NO HOOK IN MY PALM, BUT THE APE ITSELF REVEALED
A HOOK IN ITS OWN PALM, BLOOD-STAINED LIKE THE TRAIL OF A LONE TEAR
HAD BEEN TRACED.
THE IMAGE BECAME LOUDER AND MORE COMMANDING, WITH AN AUTHORITY AND A RAGE…
“ALE! YOUR LEFT HAND IS FREE! USE YOUR LEFT HAND.”
I LOOKED TO MY LEFT HAND, AND DID SEE A FISHHOOK, BARELY PIERCING
THE CALLOUS BENEATH MY SMALLEST FINGER.
I LIFTED MY FACE BACK TO THE TOWERING IMAGE,
AND WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK ALOUD.
IT BECAME ANGRIER STILL, “ALE, WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW?”
I WANTED TO ANSWER BRAVELY, BUT I COULDN’T FORCE MY TONGUE THROUGH MY TEETH,
SO I SHOOK MYSELF AWAKE, TO CONSIDER THIS NEW PLAYER AND WHAT HE’S ASKING ME FOR.